33And the king made a song of grief for Abner and said, Was the death of Abner to be like the death of a foolish man?
34Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. And the weeping of the people over him went on again.
35And the people came to make David take food, while it was still day, but David with an oath said, May God's punishment be on me if I take a taste of bread or any other thing till the sun has gone down!
36And all the people took note of it and were pleased: like everything the king did, it was pleasing to the people.
37So it was clear to Israel and to all the people on that day that the king was not responsible for the death of Abner, the son of Ner.
38And the king said to his servants, Do you not see that a chief and a great man has come to his end today in Israel?
39While I, though I am crowned king, have little strength, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are out of my control: may the Lord give to the evil-doer the reward of his evil-doing!
